Crystal River current. [volume] (Crystal, Colo.) 1886-18??, 1887-07-09
THE BLACK PR NOE.
John Alexander, the Leading Ne rO Gambler OF
tho United States,
From the Detroit Tribune.

the stapd in front OF the thcater. He
formed at o ether remarkable pict-
ure, and one that was duplicated up
on the bill board. A closely clipped
beard covered his face. magnificent
sealskin overcoat, reaching nearly to
the heels, was carelessly thrown open
in front. The diamonds that blazed
from his SHIRT bosom and fingers were
as large as the eyes OF the street gam
ms who stood gaping at the man in
the doorway. The man, too, had eyes
piercing and restless. lie wore q silk
hat and carried IL gold-headed cane.
Two nrn passed by the theater.
"Say, look at that overcoat" said
one. "Ntintrels here this week2"
eyes" replied he other.
"That fellow is the star OF the COM
pany, mebbe."
"No. he's the manager. The COM
rany is<not n colorcd ono"
please give me this with discretion.
Colored man run IL minstrel show?
Amt that q little strong?"
maybe, but it is q fact. His name
is Alexnnder-John Alexander-one
OF the best known and ceverest men
in his line III America. Some call him
Alexander the Great, others the
Black Prince C.sll him what you
will. he isa bright mhn just the same"
"Theutrical man"'
"Gambler mainly, theatrical some
what"
Mr.. Alexander was found behind the
scenes at Whitney's in the evening.
He was smoking u fragrant Favored
cigar right in the face OF the yellow
card on the wall that prohibited the
use OF tobacco on the stage.
"How did ! become IL gambler"
laughed Mr.. Alexander. "Why, my
boy, / was born one. Now you might
like to know Just where | was born.
Well. ! came to life fifteen miles be-
low Cincinnati, on President William
Henry lIairison's plantation. | used
to match pennies with the Harrison
youngsters, aad there | first discovered
my fortune .n risks. Later on | be-
came cabin boy on q New Orleans
packet steamer. Everybody CANDLES
on Mississippi river boats. 1 was no
exception. My good fortune contin-
ued, and when we reached Cincinnati
on one OF our trips found had $50
clear. left tse ri er and started
small gamhliii. room for the benefit OF
people OF my own race. | was getting
along finely uutil one day II man came
in and broke the bank, which meant
5000 to me. Then | bushwhacked
about the country for u time in a
rather impecunious condition. When
| could earn u dollar 1 played the
bank Sometimes | had hundreds and
occasionally thousands, and lost it all
the next day.
zone night / cleaned no S1,7OO in q
Cincinnati bank. ! went to Columbus
and determined to open an establish
ment for myself, A crowd followed
me Zip from Cincinnati to break me.
/ got s 900 from u Cincinnati friend,
now Il Detroit sporting man, to help
me.out. We had it hot and heavy,
but | came out 50, 900 winner. after
waros started second bank in CO.
lumbus, and both are running now"
"How do you play?"
"Only big limits-S1OO, 5000, or
$500 to call IL card. Detroit banks
pay S25 limits, but it is mere tomfool-
cry to play such IL game. l have al
ways made it u principle to break or
break-that is, to clean out the bank
or myself. That's the only true way
to gamble My advice to any one
who engages in it is to stop forever
tie minute he makes q decent pile"
"Have | ever broken banks? Only
one or two-hundred. have played
the highest game ever performed in
this country-call-car faro for 81 900
IL crack Remember this was not
combination arrangement. l simply
played my money alone. My largest
rlcanings have been in Saratoga, Long
Branch and Chicago. In Saratoga II
few years ago broke q bank for $780,
900. That was the largest bank |
ever broke, though have made more
money than that at one sitting"
what do you think OF the career of
n gambler?''
mime out OF ten die poor men,
have known OF afew who stopped play
ing when they had something, but the
rule is the reverse. The fascination
is something indescribable. There is
no use in q man gambling in light
games. The principle is to make or
lose. Fave l superstitions? None.
] have made enough money without
them. The only thing that induced
me to enter the theatrical business
was that | might divert my attention
from the gambling table. am using
the minstrels only as an experiment.
ii / like the business | shall enter in
to legitimate management and spec
ulation. | am coming here next sum-
mer to christen the new trotting as
ISOLATION. | bet on races; bet on any
thing and everything that invites
chance for making money"
Mr.. Alexander had received invita-
tions from local gaming houses to WIS.,
it their place. and on Sunday morning
he walked into Towards place. He
pulled out handful OF change from
his trousers pockets and bought a
small stack Of chips. Soon Alexan-
der had 1926 on his end OF the table.
A minute after it was $50, when he
began playing double game--that is,
against the blonde gentleman and the
bank. lie would copper for $50 every